WAITING & HOPING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1938, Page 6

WAITING & HOPING

MORE OPTIMISTIC VIEWS OF CZECH CRISIS ATTITUDE OF THE SUDETEN PARTY. HERR HITLER’S REPORTED INSTRUCTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Recd This Day, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, September 2. After the most anxious day since the Czech-German crisis began, members of the Czechoslovakian Government are more optimistic. The President (Dr. Benes) and Herr Kundt will have another conference next Monday. It has now been decided that Dr. Benes is not to issue details of the new proposals at present. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Prague correspondent says it can be presumed that the decision of the members of the Henlein party to accept or reject the proposals cannot be made before Herr Henlein’s return, but the fact that a conference was held with Dr. Benes suggests that the attitude of the party is not wholly negative. Reuter’s Prague correspondent says Viscount Runciman's happy initiative to Herr Hitler has helped to clear the air. The seemingly risky idea of a direct appeal has been justified by its success. The wording of the communique issued after the meeting between Herr Henlein and Herr Hitler disposes of the fear that a breach of peace is contemplated.

There is no confirmation of what are described as a variety of vaguely reassuring reports which are given prominence in the London evening Press, including a statement that Germany assured Sir Nevile Henderson (British Ambassador) that she would not take precipitate action, which is denied in Berlin. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent says it is believed that Herr Hitler instructed Herr Henlein not to recede on fundamentals. HITLER’S STATEMENT SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS. REJECTION OF CANTONAL PLAN. (Recd This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says Sir Nevile Henderson saw Herr von Ribbentrop privately and gave his frank personal impressions of British policy, but received no clear statement of German policy. The “News-Chronicle’s” Berlin correspondent understands that Herr Hitler sent a message to Lord Runciman rejecting the cantonal plan and demanding autonomy for the Sudetens as an undivided bloc. He insists, that “the basis of settlement must enable the Sudetens to co-operate loyally with the Czech State.”